Azernews.Az

The XIV World Congress of Russian Press (WCRP) is being held under the aegis of Russia's state news agency ITAR-TASS in Naples, Italy on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his greetings to the delegates of the World Congress.

"Your traditional meetings each year strengthen positions and make a significant contribution to the expansion of the Russian language information space," the Russian president said. "They unite all those who love our country and are genuinely interested in its successful development, promote the Russian language and culture and create Russia's positive image in the world."

The Russian President expressed hope that participants of the event give priority to historical education, the themes of preserving the memory of the common historical past and respect for national spiritual heritage during the Year of Russian History.

Chairman of the ITAR-TASS board Vitaly Ignatenko and Sergey Naryshkin, chairman of the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, will deliver speeches at the opening ceremony. The Mayor of Naples and head of the Italian national organising committee of the Congress will welcome the Italian delegates.

The Baku-based Trend news agency's director general Ilgar Huseynov, AzerTAc news agency director general Aslan Aslanov, heads of Zerkalo (Mirror) and Azerbaijani news newspapers are attending the congress from Azerbaijan.

Participants will discuss pressing issues faced by the media in the world. The agenda includes the issues relating to 'A new era of media and the Russian-speaking world information space' and 'Social media and traditional media'.

More than 300 representatives of the national media, publishers of the Russian Press and heads of media outlets from 50 countries gathered at the Bay of Naples in the southern capital of the Apennines at the call of the World Association of Russian Press.

Local authorities will hold the solemn event in honor of the participants and guests of the Congress at the famous theater San Carlo -- the first opera house in Europe today, ITAR-TASS reported.